Illusionary apparatus for theaters



L. McCOHMICK ILLUSIONARY APPARATUS FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, I920.

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Patentd Mar. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qwuwwtoz on a screen-and used theatrical appliances.

tions of scenery, and a plurality of lights,

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAN G'IDON MGGOBMICK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed April 27, 1920. Serial N0. 377,072.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, LANGDON MCCORMICK, acitizen of the United States, residing Navarre Hotel, New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Illusionary Apparatus for Theaters, of whichthefollowing is a specificatiO'Il.

( This invention relates to improvements in a method of producingillusionary effects in connection with The prime object of the inventionis to utilize a plurality of opaque objects or secand so manipulate sameas to produce on a translucent curtain orscreen, a silhouette or shadowof the objects or of the scenery sections, to form a base picture anddiffuse, blend or dissolve the lights to vary the scenic effect..-

It has been found from practical expe-- rience that the shadows fromscenic sections produced on a screen, may be changed materially to bringabout entirely different pictures by simply altering the angularity ofthe lights, or by diffusing the lights or interposing other lightsbetween "the sec- I ing the method 5 tions to diffuse rays of light tomake more pronounced certain features, and; other features of lessimportance. v

It has ,alsofbeen found that by forming a silhouette or base picture ona screen and employing lights of different'colors, or representation ofscenes from a stereopticon or moving picture machine, varied andunusualresults are obtained, and varied scenic effects maybe-constantlyproduced.

In other words, the ,method herein described is capable of producing ona screen or curtain a.v constantly changing scene from the same source,the illusionary. effect being largely brought about by the manipulationof the various lights and shadows. I

. In the accompanying drawing, representing diagrammatically one way ofillustrat- Figure 1' isa front view of a'stage illustratingtheinvention. I

Fig. '2' is-fa plan view of the same. Fig. 3, is a side view.

' Fig.4 is a: detail view of onset the scenic sections.

Fig. 5 is diagrammatic view illustrat-' system for carrying out my thesections 5 and 6, while the section 7 is single and disposed in rear ofand mid-way between the side sections. The sections 3-4;

and 5 6 as shown, are in pairs, while sectlon 7 1s in a single piece.The pairs of sections and the single section are spaced apart suflicientdistance to throw the desired shadows, and to permit of the placing ofthe proper lights to accomplishthe desired result.

Attached to opposite ends of each truck of the pairs are the oppositeendsof cables 9, which pass around sheaves 10, and are so wound as topull on one end and slack the opposite end of each cable when power isapplied to one of the sheaves. The power sheave of each truck isconnected to a reversible motor 10. 'With the arrangement, when a motoris operated a. truck may be moved laterallyto .change the relation ofthe scenic section with other scenic sections to produce the desiredshadow on the screen.

Certain ones or all the sections may if desired be-hinged to a frame,the free ends V j ILLUSIONABY APPARATUS FOR THEATERS.

1,372,969. specificatiqn of Letters Patent Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

being thereby movable toward or from the screen to change the contour ofthe shadows of the scenic section or sections. -The means to accomplishthis actionmay consist of a sheave 11, driven by a reversible motor 12,

and an .endless cable 13, having its opposite ends attached to the sidesof a truckand wound several times around the sheave ,11, and a guidesheave 14.

Located behind and near the bottom of each scenic section will be one ora series of lamps 15, each having a shade 16 operated by, a motor 17.These lamps are so disposed as to throw rays of light up toward the topedge of the scene directlyin front, and to diffuse the light between theadjacent scene sections, and each lamp will" be individually controlledto produce apredetermined production onthe screen.

In rear of the single scene sectionwill be a lamp 20, mounted to slide,as by a sleeve 21,0n a standard 22,

power" but rotatable there;

with. The standard and sleeve are rotated by a motor 23, andthe sleeve,hence the lamp is raised or lowered by a motor and gearing indicated at24.

This lamp is disposed behind all the scene sections, and below the topedges of the latter so that the rays of light will insure of shadowsbeing thrown on the translucent screen.

In' addition to the lamp 20, other lamps may be disposed behind thescene sections, to direct rays of light at various angles to change thepicture depicted on the screen at' will. T-have shown two lampsindicated at and 31, in addition to the central lamp essentials as tocontrol the location, color,

- tone, etc., of the light or picture thrown on the screen to blend withor form part of the predetermined picture.

In order to control the various shadows and the lights necessary toproduce the pictureeffect, it is quite essential that the variou'sswitchesbe so arranged as to be conveniently operated. However in therawing the circuits and switches are shown somewhat scattered and arepurely of diagrammatic form, and each will now be described. V

From the motor 23 leads awire 50, terminating in a contact 51. Alsoleading from the motor is a battery wire 52, including a battery 535,and having a switch 54, the latter adapted to coiiperate with thecontact 51. When'the switch 54 is closed the motor 23 will slowly rotatethe lamp in one direction toradially change the rays of light fromthecentral lamp 20. To reverse the motora switch and circuit 56, may beprovided.

vFrom the motor 24, leads a wire 57, having' a terminal contact 58, anda second wire 59 connects with the battery wire 52,

and from the latter extends a branch 60, having a switch 61, tocoii'perate with the contact 58. When the switch is closed the motorthrough the gearing will elevate the lamp 20, the connection 62,permitting of .the lamps being rotated and movedvertically. To reversethe motor to lower the lamp, a circuit and switch 63, may be provided,whereby to lower the lamp to adjust it in the desired position. 1

Theside lamp 30 is provided with a motor ment may to rotate it, themotorbeing controlled by a circuit 64,.battery 65, and switch 66. Therotary movement of the lamp may be reswitch 67. This lamp may also beraised by a motor 67 controlled by a circuit 68, battery 65, and switch70. The motor may versed by means of a circuit, battery and be reversedby a circuit 71. The side lamp 31, may be rotated by a motor 72,controlled by a circuit 73, and switch 74, and maybe reversed by acircuit and switch 75. Lamp 31 may be raised by a circuit 76, controlledby a switch 77. The reverse' movebe under the control of a circuit andswitch 78.

The shade of the lamp 15 in rear of the central scenic section 7, isrotated and con trolled in one direction by a motor, circuit 81, battery53, and switch 82, and the motion of the shade may be reversed by acircuit 83 and switch 84. The lamp 15 is supplied with current by acircuit 85, including a resistance box 86 to increase or decrease thelight at will.

The shades of the lamps 15 behind the scenic sections 5 and 6, arecontrolled by cir-" cuits and switches 87, and reversing circuits andswitches 88. The drums 11 of the sections adjacent these lamps arecontrolled by circuits and switches 89, while the trucks carrying thelamps are controlled by circuits and switches '90, and reverse circuitsand switches 91. The lamps are supplied with current through circuits91? including a resistance 91*.

The shades of the lamps 15, in rear. of the scenic sections 3 and 4 arecontrolled in one direction by circuits and'switches 92, and reversecurrents and switches 93 are provided tomove the shades in the oppositedirection. The lamps'behind the sections 3 and 4 are supplied withcurrent by circuits 95 having resistance 96 and the trucks carrymg theselamps are controlled by circuits 96 and switches 97. The reversemovement of the trucks may be controlled by reverse circuits andswitches 98.

The stereopticon or moving picture ap paratus is controlled by a circuit99, resistance 100, and switch 101, and such other 'circuits necessaryto bring into action at predetermined times the various elements of themachine and produce the desired results.

L ghts in rear are all difi'used and are of varlous colors according tothe scene depicted and are moved from time to time to produce thedesired shadow.

Lights are thrown on the front ofthe screen to match'up orsynchronizewith the shadows produced by the lights and scenic mechanismat the rear. The lights in front are made stronger at times than theshadows to obtain the desired effects, or pictures are thrown intocooperate with the shadow eflt'ect, or the front lights are dimmed toproduce the stronger effect of the shadows.

by motive power and under the control of the operator at-the switchboard.

The trucks will be hinged and otherwise bendable to obtain variousangles to effect the desired shadows to match up with the lights at thefront.

The scenic sections are provided with openings or translucent portionsthat the outline of the shadow picture on the screen may have lightspots to be worked in with various colored lights from the front or rearto form some part of the predetermined sketch.

What I claim is I 1. The method of producing illusionary effects on atranslucent screen consisting in arranging a plurality of objectsdepicting various portions of a determinate scene in rear of the screen,and directing rays of light in rear of the objects to produce on effectson a translucent screen consisting in arranging a plurality of objectsdepicting various portions of a determinate scene in rear of the screen,and moving rays of lights in rear of the objects to produce on thescreen various shadows of the objects and change their outline toproduce a predeterminedv picture on the front of the screen.

3. The method ofnroducing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in producing at the rear of the screen shadows, which appearon the front surface of the screen, and simultaneously diffusing rays oflight andthrowing pictures on the front of the screen to blend with andform with the shadows a predetermined picture.

.4.-The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in locating a plurality of spaced objects in rear of thescreen, throwing the rays of light the source of which is in rearof'the'objects to produce predeterminate shadows on the front of thescreen, and changing the picture by diffusing rays of light between theobjects.

" effects on a translucent screen consisting 1n 5. The method ofproducing illusionary locating a plurality of spaced objects in rear ofthe screen, throwing the rays of light the source; ofwhich is .in rearof the objects to The trucks will be made to be controlled the screen ashadow produce predeterminate shadows on the front of the screen, andchanging the picture by difiusing rays of light between the objects, anddiffusing rays of light and throwing pictures on the front of thescreen. 6. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucentscreen consisting in throwing rays of light behind a series of objectsin rear of the screen to produce a shadow picture on the front of thescreen, then. moving the source of light with reference t0 the objectsto constantly change the outline of the shadow picture.

7. The method of producing illusionary effects on a screen consisting inthrowing rays of light from a series of sources behind a series ofobjects in rear of the screen to produce a shadow picture on the frontof the screen, then creating relative movement between the objects andthe series of sources of light to produce a constant changing of theoutline of the picture, and simultaneously diffusing rays of light onthe front of the screen to assist in producing with the shadows apredetermined picture. I

8. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in placing-a series of objects in rear of the screen and aplurality of sources of light'in rear of the objects to produce on thefront of the screen a shadow picture, and simultaneously diffusingvarious colored rays of lights betweenthe series of sources of light andthe rear surface of the screen to produce on the front of the latterpredetermined colored shadow ictures.

9. The met 0d of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in placing a series of objects in rear of the screen and aplurality of sources of light in rear of the ob ects to produce on thefront of picture, and simultaneousl diffusing various colored rays oflights between the series of sources of light and the rear surface ofthe screen to produce on the front of the latter predetermined coloredshadow ictures, and simultaneously directing and on the front of thescreen to blend with and harmonize with the shadow picture to change itsform and eifect.

10. The method of producing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in I ifi'using rays of colored lights fusing various coloredlights and pictures on the front of the screen to change the form andoutline of the shadow icture.

12. The method of pro ucing illusionary effects on a translucent screenconsisting in directing and diffusing various colored lights andpictures on the front of the screen and simultaneously moving a seriesof objects in rear of the screen in front of rays of light to produceshadows to. complete the picture on the front surface of the screen.

13. The method of producing illusionary 'efiects on a translucent screenconsisting 1n producing constantly changing shadows on the screen andconstantly changing degrees of light to form abase shadow picture, andsimultaneously on the front of the screen and in cooperative relationwith the 'base picture colored lights and sub-pictures to form apredetermined scene.

14L. The method of producing illusionary' .efiects consisting inproducing a shadow on a screen to form a base picture and directing,dissolving and blending colored lights adding to the base picture andconstantly chang- I ing the view.

15. The method of producing illusionaryv effects ona translucent screenconsisting in throwing a shadow base plcture on the screen anddirecting, dissolving and blending colored lights on opposite sides ofthe screen to add to and constantly change the base shadow picture.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LANGDQN MCCORMICK.

